Amoeba Hollywood's hip-hop chart features the new album from Sage FrancisLi(F)e on the artist's own Strange Famous label in the number one position. The record is also doing extremely well at both the San Francisco and the Berkeley Amoeba stores. Peep last week's Amoeba Music Hip-Hop Weekly Round Up for more background info on this recommended new release from the alternative rap act, as well as upcoming California dates/venues on the ongoing Sage Francis tour, which reportedly is selling advance tickets at a rapid rate. All the other chart entries this week at the SoCal Amoeba, including B.o.B. presentsThe Adventures Of Bobby Ray, Madlib'sMadlib Medicine Show #4: 420 Chalice All-Stars (Stones Throw), and Long Island, NY emcee Roc Marciano'sMarcbergon Fat Beats, have also been best sellers lately at Amoeba Berkeley and San Francisco. Meantime, the Black Eyed Peas'The E.N.D.(Interscope), which is coming up on the one year anniversary of its release date in a few weeks, is like the Energizer bunny. It just keeps on going and going and selling and selling -- thanks in great part to the group touring and the hook-laden hit singles it keeps spinning off.

Another new release that is not on this week's chart but reportedly is selling well at the Los Angeles Amoeba is Little Brother's farewell fourth album Left Back. Luis at Amoeba San Francisco reports to the Amoeblog that, "I am hella feeling the new Guilty Simpson called OJ Simpson on Stones Throw. It's that raw gritty Detroit flow produced by Madlib. And speaking of that producer, the Madlib Medicine Show #5-History of the Loop Digga-1990-2000 [the latest installment in the 12 part series] is comprised of his early stuff and displays how he has evolved. Also, we just got these limited Andre Nickatina autographed skatedecks and they look sick! It's the artwork from his latest album."

Luis also reminded me that on Monday (May 24th) at 6pm the Haight Street store will have a recommended free in-store from Reflection Eternal(aka Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek). "Their new album Revolutions Per Minute, is on point," reports Luis of the pair of hip-hop legends, who play the Fillmore in San Francisco later that same night. Below is a clip of the pair performing "The Blast" off the new album at a recentJimmy Kimmel Livesession. And as for last Friday's Mandala DJ series Amoeba instore with DJ Quest and the talented at-risk kids he mentors at San Francisco's Horizons Unlimited? "It was amazing to see how they've developed into skilled turntablists over the years. They've been coming [to Amoeba San Francisco] for a few years now and it's great to witness how they've grown, literally and skillwise," said Luis.

Shout outs are in order for the Amoeba Berkeley hip-hop reporter DJ Inti, who last night, as part of the Amoeba Dusty Fingers series, was spinning alongside such other DJs as Ranon (who played a lot of Wu Tang) and Pam the Funkstress at the Uptown in downtown Oakland. After getting home from the gig late last night, Inti reported to the Amoeblog that, "I enjoyed playing a bunch of rare boogie funk, All City, freestyle, and 80's girl rap 12"s that I rarely play out, because that's what vinyl is all about. It's real. It's old. It's forgotten. It's beautiful. It's beautiful!" Ah yes, spoken like a true hip-hop record lover. I can dig it.

Something that is not on the Amoeba Hip-Hop Chart yet but no doubt will be next week is the exciting new joint venture from Nas and Damien Marley,Distant Relatives, released by Republic this week. Below is a video clip of some highlights from the power pair's sold-out record release concert party at the Highline Ballroom in New York on Monday night, which, with backing from a smoking live band, looks to have been off the hook! I have only heard some selections from this unlikely pairing but what I've heard sounds really good, especially considering that often when Jamaican and American artists get together it can sound either forced or else that one genre is dominant over the other. Not so in this case, where the two artists shine and bring out the best in each other. Distant Relatives, which features guest appearances from K'Naan, Stephen Marley and Lil Wayne, is available in all Amoeba Music stores.

Nas and Damien Marley at the recent Distant Relatives album release party/concert in NYC

This is a good weekend to be in the Bay Area for concerts, events, and parties including a special one man theatrical performance by emcee Azeem tonight (Friday) and again on Sunday (May 23) at same times. Titled Rude Boy the one man hip-hop inspired theatrical performance simultaneously features video and paintings from SF graffiti artist CUBA who will be unveiling his latest piece for Oscar Grant who, as you remember, was controversially slain by BART police New Years Day 2009. Tonight's show is at the Twinspace Auditorium, 2111 Mission Street (at 17th) and starts at 8pm sharp. Doors open at 7:30pm. Azeem's Rude Boy performance is followed by music from DJ Rashid and David8. Suggested price $15 to $20.

Tonight May 21st Lyrics Born along with DJ D Sharp who were scheduled to be at theNew Parish in Downtown Oakland - 579 18th Street (at San Pablo) got canceled but NY emcee Blitz the Ambassador, who released the amazing 2009 album Stereotype, will be there instead. Tomorrow Saturday May 22nd T-Pain, Brown Eyed Girls, and Bruno Mars are all at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco (415 392-4400). Also tomorrow is the recommended Pete Rock v J-Rocc show with the emcee and DJ both throwing down at SOM, 2925 16th Street (at South Van Ness) in San Francisco, CA. Also on the bill will be DJs MR.E, DJ Haylow, and Prince Aries. And next week Anti-Pop Consortium, along with MNDR and Martina Topley-Bird, all share a bill with headliner Massive Attack for two nights at the Warfield on Tues and Weds (May 25th & 26th).

Finally, I leave you with three Amoeba Music related items: two tips and one music video. First up, if you don't already have an Amoeba T-shirt, you should cop one, as they are not only cool shirts with that instantly recognizable Amoeba logo that will spark up conversations with people wherever you travel (I know from firsthand experience, having run into music fans/Amoeba fans all over the globe), but you can get the Amoeba logo T-shirts for just $10 on the Amoeba site. Such a deal!

The other tip, which is kind of Amoeba related since Amoeba has won so many "best of" awards over the years, is that the East Bay Express has just launched the voting process for the 2010 Best of the East Bay Awards. This year the theme is Home Grown. The last two year's Best of the East Bay Party events have been so packed at the Oakland Museum of California that this year's party -- happening on on Friday, August 6th -- is relocating to the even larger Jack London Square area, where there will be multiple music stages, extreme sports, a kids' party zone, etc. etc. Of course, that is a long way off, as is even the East Bay Express' July 14th Best of the East Bay issue, but now is the time to register with the East Bay Express Best of the East Bay 2010 ballot forms. And finally, here is a great underground song/video from four years ago by San Francisco emcees Goodword and Each in which Amoeba Music San Francisco is featured heavily (see below). And look for the forthcoming release from their spin-off group B-Pos, who will be doing an Amoeba in-store next month. Look out for an Amoeblog interview with the Bay Area crew around that time.